Year after year, the percentage of young people taking online lessons or courses is increasing. According to comparable Eurostat data, 20% of Albanian young people in the 16-29 age group used the Internet for online courses or lessons in 2023.

After the pandemic, the use of the internet for online courses and lessons has increased significantly. In 2009, only 3% of young Albanians used the internet for learning, Monitor reported on Wednesday.

Compared to developed EU countries, Albania still has a large gap in the use of the internet to increase knowledge, but compared to some Eastern European countries it is positioned better (see graph below). The participation of Albanian youth in online learning was higher than in North Macedonia, Serbia, Poland, Croatia, Hungary, Portugal, Denmark, etc.

Finland had the highest percentage of students and young people taking online lessons in 2024 with around 53% followed by Greece 42%, Spain and the Czech Republic, Ireland and Slovenia. From the region, Bosnia had the best ranking, where 27.6% of young people used the internet for online learning.

On the other hand, Romania was the country with the lowest participation in online lessons, with only 8%, followed by Turkey, Germany, etc.

Where specific online learning methods are considered, 18% of internet users in Europe took an online course in 2024, which refers to a planned series of learning activities on a specific topic that results in a qualification or certificate of attendance. The highest rates were in Ireland at 36%, and Finland and Spain, both at 32%.

At the same time, 29% of internet users used online learning materials, which refer to materials for educational, professional, or private purposes. The highest percentage was in the Netherlands with 53%, Ireland with 52% and Finland with 46%.

Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital marketing are among the most in-demand online courses in 2024. About 40% of 2024's top courses teach AI, reinforcing it as a must-have skill for all employees.

In addition to improving AI, online courses are also being used to improve soft skills, or simply satisfy curiosity. According to the online course provider Coursera, students are increasingly choosing focused content to better prepare for specific jobs.

However, despite the overall increase in online learning rates in the EU, taking an online course remains the least popular activity among internet users.

Most people use the internet primarily for communication: 85% use it for phone calls, video calls, or messaging, while 80% use it for email.